South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1887-11-04
A TURKS PLEASURES.
Inc Favorite Amusement of an
Oriental People.
The Three Public ReCreations
Which They Prefer.

The traits Of people may often be
Judged ascorrcctly from their pleasures
and recrcations, as from their history
and serious conduct. In the freedom o!
the idle, pleasurc-sceking hours, PEG
pie will betray whether they are imagin-
alive or matter-of- fact whether they are
gentle or rough. whether they are sober
or buoyant of spirit.
1t is usual TO find that a people who
dwell in rugged. inhospitable lands, in
regions of storm and gloomy skies pre-
Ter amusemcnts which are hardy and ac-
tive; while those who dwell in softer,
SUMMER chimes enjoy themselves in mild
CT recreations.
The old French chronicler, Froissart,
observed, when in England, that the
English 'took their pleasures very
sadly" The English, and especially
the Scotch, dwelling as they do in a
capricious climate, are noted for the
ruggedness and hardihood of their
sports. The buoyancy and gayety OF
tho French character, on the other
hand, are strikingly reflected in the
lightness and sparkle which appear in
all their favorte pastimes
The recreations of Oriental people arc
more interesting, because less familiar
to us than those of the Western people,
and afford quito as reliable a key to
national character.
A recent sojourncr in Turkey has
given a very entertaining account of the
ways in which the subjects of the Sultan
beguile their many idle hours. The
Turks are an indolent people. The Ian
guor If their beautiful climate renders
them prone to take the world easily, to
have frequent holidays, and to enjoy
pleasures which soothe rather than ex.
cite.
The principal public recreations OF
the Turks arc three. One is, to witness
the burlesque acting of company OF
men who do not use any stage for their
performances, but issue forth from be.
hind single screen. These players 90
about from place to place, erect their
screen in the open air and give their
performances before the motley crowd
of the turbancd idlers who gather
around them.
Another favoritc amusement is what
the writer referred to calls the Turkish
Punch and judy" This show, however
is given by means of shadows cast upon
a white sheet The effect of tn S is
very weird and striking.
The third public recreation is the
gathering in the streets, or on the open
spaces, to listen to the thrilling tales OF
the ''mcddahs," or professional story
tellers. The mcddahs take the place in
Turkey, of lecturers in America. They
relate the most exciting stories, with
many emphatic gestures, contortions OF
the face, and modulations of the voice.
They sit in the middle of an attentive
circle, and often rouse their hearers to a
high pitch of breathless interest and
excitement by their dramatic powers OF
narration.
The Turkish women are allowed to
witness the burlesque acting; but they
arc forbidden to be present at the Punch
and Judy shows, and at the story-tell-
ing of the meddah7. The women,
moreover, are not permitted to attend
the theatres and opera houses.
Like all Orientals, tho Turks arc very
fond of music and Of dancing. But
their airs, musical instruments and
dances arc entirely different from those
of Western Europe. They partake very
much of the nature of the race as seer
in other ways. The Turkish music &c
Western ears, sounds soft, mclodous and
monotonous. The Turks, on the other
hand, regard European music as too
loud, boisterous and confused in sound.
a choir, or an orchestra, in Turkey, al
sing and play the air only.
The Turks like ceremony, and all their
recreations arc pursued in sodatc,
quiet, ceremonious way. The mu,i-
clans, dancers, story-tcllers are ushercC
before and away from their audiences
with flourishes and obcisauccs, and arc
rewarded with much solemnity of dc
meanor.
There are very few recrcations il
Turkey, in which men and women ar,
allowed to take part in common. Wher
both sexes witness the same performance
the women always sit in group behinC
screen or thick lattice. so that they col
witness what is going forward withou
seeing, or being seen 10y the men. Blu
in this case, the best point from whicl
to view the performance il accorded {,
the women. II Youths Companion.